Shooting mars conclusion of Rubonia's Mardi Gras

MANATEE -- The 35th Annual Mardi Gras festival and parade in Rubonia was marred by a shooting around 6 p.m. Sunday.

At the end of the event, a suspect in a silver Chevy SUV driving in the 7100 block of 12th Avenue Drive East fired one round into an occupied silver Ford SUV driving on the same road in the opposite direction, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

The driver of the Chevy raced from the scene but deputies reportedly caught up to it at Bayshore Road and U.S. 41 when the vehicle crashed into another vehicle.

Deputies reportedly found one occupant outside the suspect's vehicle when they arrived while another had run into a wooded area west of U.S. 41.

The victim whose vehicle had been hit with gunfire reportedly also ran away, leaving his vehicle behind.

Numerous festival attendees were interviewed but no one was able to tell authorities what role the suspects in the Chevy played.

No charges were listed in the report and there were no injuries.

A Ruger 9mm handgun was reportedly found just outside the suspect's vehicle.